Energy: appliance efficiency.

Existing law requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to prescribe, by regulation, appliance efficiency standards, based on reasonable and current use patterns, to promote the use of energy- and water-efficient appliances. Existing law requires these standards to become effective no sooner than one year after the date of adoption or revision. Existing law provides that, within 5 years after the adoption of an appliance standard, a change in an appliance standard shall not become effective unless the commission adopts other cost-effective measures for that appliance. This bill would provide that the battery charger labeling requirements do not become effective and would prohibit the enforcement of those requirements if, no later than January 31, 2013, the United States Department of Energy issues a decision adopting a federal labeling requirement for battery chargers that becomes effective no later than July 1, 2013. The bill would provide that the battery charger labeling requirements adopted by the commission that become effective would remain in effect only until the United States Department of Energy adopts a final labeling rule for battery chargers that becomes effective.